Channel estimation for a WLAN through increased use of preamble

ABSTRACT

A method and system for improving channel estimation in a wireless device is disclosed. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include receiving a data packet wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter, the packet including a preamble portion and a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes at least one training field and a second field; performing a first channel estimation using the training field; and using the second field to refine the first channel estimation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/823,975, filed Aug. 30, 2006, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A commonplace type of WLAN system is the 802.11 an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standard. Up until 2004, 802.11 wireless devices had a single antenna (some devices had two antennas, but there was only one set of components to process the signal, or RF chain). 802.11 task group N (TGn) has recently proposed an 802.11n standard that has the goal of increasing the peak data throughput transmitted by a wireless multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) device to 100 Mbps. The basis of MIMO operation is to provide 11n devices with multiple radio interfaces to allow the devices to send data on different channels at the same time in order to achieve greater transmit/receive data rates than the pre-11n devices.

In a WLAN, information is transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver through the transmission of encoded data packets. These data packets are then decoded at the receiver based on channel state information (CSI). The more accurate the CSI, the more accurate will be the decoding precision, and hence lower the packet error rate. Because a WLAN may suffer from impairments such as delay spread, thermal noise, and bandwidth fluctuations due to a shared medium with multiple users in a mobile environment, a perfect CSI is never known to the receiver. Instead, the receiver must rely on channel estimation. In a WLAN, such as 802.11n, channel estimation is performed at the receiver through training sequences that are transmitted prior to the data. The training sequences are pre-determined and known to the receiver, enabling the receiver to estimate the CSI. For example, in a WLAN 802.11n system, the packet structure includes a preamble that is followed by the data. The preamble includes several types of fields, including several training fields.

Although the other types of fields in the preamble include a variety of information, currently, channel estimation performed at the receiver is restricted to use of only the training fields of the packet preamble. Accordingly, by limiting the channel estimation to only use of the training fields of the preamble, the accuracy of the channel estimation may be likewise limited.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method and system for improving channel estimation in a wireless device. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include receiving a data packet wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter, the packet including a preamble portion and a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes at least one training field and a second field; performing a first channel estimation using the training field; and using the second field to refine the first channel estimation.

According to the method and system disclosed herein, receiving wireless devices are no longer limited to using only the training fields of packet preambles for calculation of channel estimation, thereby improving the accuracy of the channel estimate, and consequently the accuracy of the decoding of the data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless communication system.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a process performed by the driver for improving channel estimation in a wireless device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary packet format as proposed by the WLAN 802.11n system in a mode of operation referred to as Greenfield mode.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the process performed by the driver for providing an improved the channel estimate in further detail according to one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improving the accuracy of channel estimates in a WLAN receiver through increased use of packet preambles. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

The preferred embodiment provides a method and system for increasing the accuracy of channel estimates for use in wireless communication receiver devices. According to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, estimating the channel at the receiver when a transmitted packet is received is not restricted only to the training fields of the packet preamble. Instead, additional portions of the preamble may be used to improve the quality of the channel estimation. By increasing the accuracy of the channel estimation, the accuracy of the receiver's decoding is increased, which in turn, may lower the packet error rate.

The exemplary embodiments will be described in terms of improved channel estimation using Greenfield access mode in IEEE 802.11n WLAN systems. However, one with ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the exemplary embodiments may be used with other types of access modes and other types of wireless communication systems in which packets are transmitted with preambles having various fields besides a training field. The exemplary embodiments will also be described in the context of particular methods having certain steps. However, the method and system operate effectively for other methods having different and/or additional steps not inconsistent with the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless communication system. The wireless communication system 10 includes a wireless device 12 that communicates with another wireless device, for example, an access point (AP) 14. In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless device 12 comprises a MIMO device. In addition, the wireless device 12 may be a network device or client station (STA) used in a desktop/portable computer for communication. The access point 14 is the device that connects multiple wireless devices 12 together to form a wireless network and permits wireless devices 12 to communicate over the network or to each other. An example access point 14 is a router that has a broadband network connection. Several access points 14 can link together to form a larger network that allows roaming. The wireless device 12 and the access point 14 communicate through the transmission of signals in the form of streams of encoded data packets 15 over one or more radio frequency (RF) channels. In the context of referring to different layers in a particular protocol reference model, packets 15 may sometimes be referred to as frames.

Although both the wireless device 12 and the access point 14 are capable of both transmitting and receiving signals, for the purposes of this disclosure, the wireless device 12 will be described in terms of being the receiver that receives data packets 15 transmitted from the access point 14.

The wireless device 12 includes one or more independent radio interfaces 16 a and 16 n (commonly referred to as radio interfaces 16) for processing one or more data streams, a controller 18 coupled to the radio interfaces 16, a memory 20 coupled to the controller 18, and a bus interface unit 22 coupled to the controller 18 and to the memory 20 for transmitting data to a host 24 over a host system bus.

The radio interfaces 16 are independent from each other because each radio interface 16 has its own antenna and RF chain. Each RF chain and its corresponding antenna are responsible for transmitting and processing a data stream. A single frame of data can be broken up and multiplexed across multiple data streams and reassembled at the receiver, which may have the benefits of resolving multipath interference and improving the quality of the received signal. In one embodiment, the devices in the wireless communication system 10 may have a different number of receive antennas than transmit antennas. Each of the radio interfaces 16 may utilize 1 to N radio channels. Each of the channels may be used simultaneously for data transmission. The wireless device 12 may also include multiple operating modes including one or more data modes corresponding to the number of available radio interfaces 16.

The driver 26 is software or firmware that controls the radio interfaces 16 and can process the data if needed. The driver 26 is executed by the controller 18. The controller 18 may comprise an ASIC, a DSP or other type of processor. The memory 20 stores the incoming and outgoing data packets 15 and any other data needed by the driver 26. The bus interface unit 22 transfers data between the host system 24, and the controller 18 and the memory 20.

In operation, when the wireless device 12 receives one or more data packets 15, the driver 26 decodes the data packets 15 based on channel state information (CSI). Because an exact CSI cannot be determined by the receiving wireless device 12, the driver 26 conventionally performs channel estimation through training sequences that are transmitted in the data packets 15 prior to the actual data within the packets 15.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a process performed by the driver 26 for improving channel estimation in a wireless device 12 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 3, the process begins when the wireless device 12 receives a signal comprising a data packet 15 wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter, such as access point 14 (block 200). Depending on the type of wireless protocol and the device's mode of operation within that protocol, the format of the data packets 15 may vary. However, typically, the packet format includes a preamble portion followed by a data portion containing actual data.

The preamble contains information essential to establish a link with the transmitter via a radio frequency (RF) channel through gain control, synchronization, channel estimation, etc. In some systems, the same preamble may be transmitted on all the device antennas, but with small time shifts relative to the others. The preamble may include several types of fields, including one or more training fields used traditionally for estimation, and at least one other type of field. The preamble in most modes of the WLAN 802.11 standard, for example, includes both short and long training fields, and a signal field.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary packet format as proposed by the WLAN 802.11n system in a specific mode of operation referred to as Greenfield mode. A packet 300 in Greenfield mode includes a preamble 302 preceding a data field 304 (which contains a physical sub-layer data unit). The preamble 302 includes a Legacy Short Training Field (L-STF) 306; a High Throughput Long Training Field (HT-LTF) 308 a; a High Throughput Signal Field (HT-SIG) 310; and several (e.g., 4) additional High Throughput Long Training Fields (HT-LTF's) 308 b. Other fields not shown that may be utilized in the preamble in other modes of WLAN 802.11n include a Legacy Long Training Field (L-LFT), a Legacy Signal Field (L-SIG), and a High Throughput Short Training Field (HT-STF).

The Legacy Short Training Field 306 is typically used by the receiver for synchronization and automatic gain control (AGC). The HT-Signal Field 310 provides information that helps to decode the data in the data field 304, such as the modulation, coding rate, and number of spatial streams.

The training portion of the preamble 302 comprising the HT-Long Training Fields 308 a and 308 b (collectively referred to as training fields 308), contains the training sequences traditionally used to obtain CSI through channel estimation at the receiver, which is then used to decode the data field 304. As described above, traditionally channel estimation has in the past been restricted to use of only the training portion of the preamble 302, i.e., the training fields 308.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the driver 26 also performs channel estimation using one or more of the training fields 308 of the preamble 302 (block 202). However, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the driver 26 also uses a least one other field of the preamble 302 to refine the channel estimation (block 204).

According to the exemplary embodiment, the other field of the preamble 302 used to refine the initial channel estimates is the HT-SIG (hereinafter signal field) 310. The signal field 310 contains information necessary for enabling the receiving wireless device 12 to correctly decode the data 304. The signal field 310 is particularly suitable for channel estimation because the signal field 310 is encoded (i.e., digitally modulated) with a high strength code and can very reliably be decoded at the receiver over a wide range of channel conditions. More specifically, the signal field 310 is encoded using Phase-shift keying (PSK) and also includes a cycle redundancy check (CRC). Even if there are errors in the channel estimate using the training fields 308, the signal field 310 is almost always error-free.

According to the exemplary embodiment, once the receiver decodes the signal field 310 correctly, the receiver can re-encode the signal field 310 to reconstruct the signal that was transmitted, and in effect, provide a longer training sequence. Once the signal field 310 has been successfully reconstructed, the receiver can use the signal field 310 to compute a second channel estimation that may be used to refine the initial channel estimation computed from the long training fields. According to one embodiment, the initial channel estimation may be refined by combining (e.g., averaging) the initial channel estimation with the second channel estimation, providing the refined channel estimation that is used to decode the data 304.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the process performed by the driver 26 for providing an improved the channel estimation in further detail according to one exemplary embodiment. The process begins by calculating the initial channel estimation based on one or more training fields 308 of the preamble 302 (block 400). In one embodiment, the initial channel estimation may be determined based on only the first long training field (HT-LTF1) 308 a. The initial channel estimation may be calculated from the training field(s) 308 using conventional techniques, the details of which are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

After calculating the initial channel estimation, the driver 26 uses the initial channel estimation to decode parameters of the signal field 310 (block 402). The decoded parameters are re-encoded (using the same type of encoding originally used to encode the signal field 310) to provide a reconstructed signal field (block 404). The decoding is validated by comparing the signal field 310 with the reconstructed signal field (block 406). If validated, the driver 26 calculates a second channel estimation based on the parameters of decoded signal field 310 (block 408). In one embodiment, the second channel estimation is calculated using the same conventional techniques used to calculate the initial channel estimation. The driver 26 then averages the initial channel estimation with the second channel estimation to obtain an improved channel estimate (block 410). In another embodiment, the initial channel estimation may be refined by the second channel estimation using a weighted average. The improved channel estimate is then used to e decode the data 304 in the packet 300 (block 412).

Because the averaged channel estimation is based on both the long training fields 308 in addition to another field of the preamble 302, the averaged channel estimation should increase the accuracy of CSI estimation at the receiver. The more accurate the CSI estimation, the more accurate the decoding of the data 304, and hence lower the packet error rate. Accordingly, improving channel estimation by performing the estimates using the training fields 308 as well as another field of the preamble 302 accordance with the exemplary embodiments may result in a decoding performance gain of approximately 1 dB.

In the process above, the signal field 308 is encoded and then re-encoded to obtain the averaged channel estimation prior to the driver 26 decoding the data 304. According to an alternative embodiment, the signal field 310 is used even as the data 304 is being processed. In this embodiment, the initial channel estimation is first obtained and the signal field 308 is then decoded. After the signal field 308 is decoded, the decoding of the data 304 is commenced. Any free cycles encountered during the decoding of the data 304 is then used to obtain channel estimations based on the decoded signal field, which together with the initial channel estimation are used to provide the refined channel estimation. The refined channel estimation is then used for the decoding of the remaining data 304, thereby increasing accuracy of the channel estimation as the data 304 is being processed.

In another embodiment, another preamble field other than the signal field 310 may be used to augment the channel estimation obtained from the training fields 308. For example, a short training field may be used to improve channel estimation, such as the Legacy Short Training Field (L-SFT) 306 used in Greenfield mode. Typically, the short training field is used to achieve standardization or to adjust the gain. However, the short training field could be used in exemplary embodiments by using half of the short training field to achieve synchronization or to adjust gain, and then using the other half to obtain the second channel estimation.

In yet another embodiment, some mixed operating mode packet formats may include a guard area in-between the signal field 310 and the long training field 308 in the preamble. Typically, a modulator simply removes the guard area. However, the guard area contains just a copy of the last few samples of the long training field 308. Accordingly, additional use can be made of the guard area along with the signal field 310 in addition to the long training field to generate the refined channel estimation.

A method and system for improving channel estimation for WLANs through increased use of preamble has been disclosed. Exemplary embodiments have been provided that describe how the preamble 302 may be additionally leveraged beyond use of the training fields for improved CSI estimation at the receiver. The embodiments are not limited to the WLAN Greenfield mode of operation or limited to using specifically the signal field 310 for improved channel estimation. In general, additional use of the preamble (not restricting CSI estimation to the LTF), under appropriate conditions, can improve CSI estimation accuracy considerably and reduce the decoding error.

The present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, and one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments, and any variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be implemented using hardware, software, a computer readable medium containing program instructions, or a combination thereof. Software written according to the present invention is to be either stored in some form of computer-readable medium such as memory or CD-ROM, or is to be transmitted over a network, and is to be executed by a processor. Consequently, a computer-readable medium is intended to include a computer readable signal, which may be, for example, transmitted over a network. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A method for improving channel estimation in a wireless device, the method comprising: receiving a packet transmitted through a wireless channel, the packet including i) a preamble portion, and ii) a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes (i) a plurality of long training fields, and (ii) a signal field, wherein the signal field is between two of the long training fields; using one of the long training fields in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a first channel estimation of the wireless channel; and using the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel and thereby generate a refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the data in the data portion of the packet.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein using the signal field to refine the first channel estimation further comprises: using the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a second channel estimation of the wireless channel; and combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating the refined channel estimation by averaging the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating the refined channel estimation by using a weighted average of the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal field is encoded and functions to enable the wireless device to correctly decode the data in the data portion of the preamble.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: using the first channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the signal field and to generate a decoded signal field; re-encoding the decoded signal field to generate a reconstructed signal field; verifying that the reconstructed signal field has been reconstructed correctly by comparing the signal field to the reconstructed signal field; and using the decoded signal field to compute the second channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: after decoding the signal field, using the decoded signal field to begin decoding the data; using any free cycles encountered during decoding of the data to compute the second channel estimation from the decoded signal field; and after combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation, using the refined channel estimation for decoding any remaining data, thereby increasing accuracy of the channel estimation as the data is being processed.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal field (i) is encoded using Phase-shift keying (PSK) and (ii) also includes a cycle redundancy check (CRC).
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a guard area to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel, wherein the guard area is between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating the second channel estimate based on: the signal field; and a guard area between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 12. An executable software product stored on a computer-readable medium, the executable software product containing program instructions for improving channel estimation in a wireless device, the program instructions for: receiving a packet wirelessly transmitted through a wireless channel from a transmitter, the packet including i) a preamble portion, and ii) a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes (i) a plurality of long training fields, and (ii) a signal field, wherein the signal field is between two of the long training fields; using one of the long training fields in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a first channel estimation of the wireless channel; and using the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel and thereby generate a refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 13. The executable software product of claim 12, further comprising instructions for using the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the data in the data portion of the packet.
 14. The executable software product of claim 12, wherein using the signal field to refine the first channel estimation further comprises: using the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a second channel estimation using the signal field; and combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 15. The executable software product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for generating the refined channel estimation by averaging the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 16. The executable software product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for generating the refined channel estimation by using a weighted average of the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 17. The executable software product of claim 15, wherein the signal field is encoded and functions to enable the wireless device to correctly decode the data in the data portion of the preamble.
 18. The executable software product of claim 17, further comprising instructions for: using the first channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the signal field and to generate a decoded signal field; re-encoding the decoded signal field to generate a reconstructed signal field; verifying that the reconstructed signal field has been reconstructed correctly by comparing the signal field to the reconstructed signal field; and using the decoded signal field to compute the second channel estimation.
 19. The executable software product of claim 18, further comprising instructions for: after decoding the signal field, using the decoded signal field to begin decoding the data; using any free cycles encountered during decoding of the data to compute the second channel estimation from the decoded signal field; and after combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation, using the refined channel estimation for decoding any remaining data, thereby increasing accuracy of the channel estimation as the data is being processed.
 20. The executable software product of claim 12, wherein the signal field (i) is encoded using Phase-shift keying (PSK) and (ii) also includes a cycle redundancy check (CRC).
 21. The executable software product of claim 12, further comprising instructions for using a guard area to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel, wherein the guard area is between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 22. The executable software product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for generating the second channel estimate based on: the signal field; and a guard area between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 23. A wireless device, comprising: at least one radio interface to receive a signal comprising a packet transmitted through a wireless channel from a transmitter, the packet including i) a preamble portion, and ii) a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes (i) a plurality of long training fields, and (ii) a signal field, wherein the signal field is between two of the long training fields; a controller coupled to the radio interface; and a driver executed by the controller, the driver configured to: use one of the long training fields in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a first channel estimation of the wireless channel; and use the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel and thereby generate a refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the driver is configured to use the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the data in the data portion of the packet.
 25. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the driver is configured to use the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel by: performing a second channel estimation of the wireless channel using the signal field in the preamble portion of the packet, and combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 26. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the refined channel estimation is generated by averaging the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 27. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the refined channel estimation is generated by using a weighted average of the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation.
 28. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the signal field is encoded and functions to enable the wireless device to correctly decode the data in the data portion of the preamble.
 29. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the driver is further configured to: use the first channel estimation of the wireless channel to decode the signal field and to generate a decoded signal field; re-encode the decoded signal field to generate a reconstructed signal field; verify that the reconstructed signal field has been reconstructed correctly by comparing the signal field to the reconstructed signal field; and use the decoded signal field to compute the second channel estimation of the wireless channel.
 30. The wireless device of claim 29, wherein the driver is further configured to: after decoding the signal field, use the decoded signal field to begin decoding the data; use any free cycles encountered during decoding of the data to compute the second channel estimation from the decoded signal field; and after combining the first channel estimation and the second channel estimation to generate the refined channel estimation, use the refined channel estimation for decoding any remaining data, thereby increasing accuracy of the channel estimation as the data is being processed.
 31. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the signal field i) is encoded using Phase-shift keying (PSK) and ii) also includes a cycle redundancy check (CRC).
 32. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the wireless device comprises a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) device.
 33. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the driver is configured to use a guard area to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel, wherein the guard area is between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 34. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the driver is configured to generate the second channel estimate based on: the signal field; and a guard area between the signal field and the one of the long training fields.
 35. A method, comprising: receiving a packet transmitted through a wireless channel, the packet including i) a preamble portion, and ii) a data portion containing data, wherein the preamble portion includes (i) a short training field, and (ii) a plurality of long training fields; using one of the long training fields in the preamble portion of the packet to perform a first channel estimation of the wireless channel; and using a portion of the short training field in the preamble portion of the packet to refine the first channel estimation of the wireless channel and thereby generate a refined channel estimation of the wireless channel. 